by Jeff Dieffenbach

Saturday night at brand new CMGi Field played host to two stories for the Revolution. To be sure, 22-year old Taylor Twellman’s two-goal effort rates the headlines and the attention of defenders around the league. MLS forwards should also take note, however, of a solid defense anchored in the center by fellow 22-year old Rusty Pierce in place of the World Cup bound Carlos Llamosa.

“It’s different any time you’re replacing somebody like Carlos Llamosa. He’s a very good player, he’s in the World Cup for a reason. I had a couple of games to play on the right with him and learn from him,” Pierce told Soccer365.

Pierce and Revolution coach Fernando Clavijo have their playbooks opened to the same page. “As a coach, having someone you can move around is extraordinary. Now, Rusty, I know he feels more comfortable playing on the right side, but the two or three games that he’s played and filled in for Carlos Llamosa he’s done an absolutely outstanding job.”

Clavijo continued his support, “I’m so proud of the young players that I have in the back.” Pierce joined Jay Heaps, 25, Joe Franchino, 25, and Leo Cullen, 26, in defense to shut down the Dallas Burn. Burn forward Jason Kreis saw his five game goal-scoring streak come to an end, getting off only two shots.

Shots were not a problem for Twellman, who netted his first in the 6th minute. The play began with a short corner kick from Alex Pineda Chacon, who passed to Franchino on the left side. Franchino sent a low cross to the middle of the box at the near post that Twellman volleyed home with a left footed strike.

The 32-year old Pineda Chacon did not have much else to cheer about, eventually leaving in the 64th minute for Andy Williams. “Chacon was not Chacon. So Andy [Williams] came in and did a pretty good job overall,” offered Clavijo.

Quarterback controversies are nothing new to local fans, having just seen newcomer Tom Brady supplant long-time franchise hero Drew Bledsoe as the field general for the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots. Williams, 24, has not hidden his desire for playing time, but has an uphill battle to supplant playmaker Pineda Chacon, last year’s scoring champion. Williams’ best hope may be for Clavijo to go from a 4-4-2 to a 3-5-2, a shake-up he’s probably not yet willing to make.

One decision that isn’t controversial is pairing Twellman up top with the 2000 scoring leader Mamadou Diallo. Twellman notched his second tally and fourth in three games on a 40th minute corner kick from Ted Chronopolous. Twellman challenged Burn keeper Matt Jordan at the near (left) post. Replays were inconclusive as to whether or not Twellman got his head to the ball, but there was not doubt in the minds of either the official scorer or coach Clavijo. “Typical goal scorer, he just goes for the ball.”

The players weren’t the only young heroes. Still under construction, CMGi Field and getting home to it was certainly important to the Revolution. Said Clavijo, “Just to get home is great, forget about the opening. We’ve been on the road for the last four months. We went to Brazil, we were in Portugal, we were opening at San Jose, Columbus, Chicago, New York.”

Twellman agreed. “We were disappointed with only four points in the first four games, now we’re finally at home, finally, sleeping in our own beds, and everyone’s rooting for us. We’re definitely excited.”

Clavijo hopes to carry that excitement deep into the season. “Our crowd, our fans, are the best in the league by far. They deserve a facility like this, they deserve a good team, they deserve a championship.” A soccer sellout crowd of 22,006 fans filled the still under construction stadium’s lower third.

CMGi Field will host the MLS Cup Final on Sunday, October 20. “We’re looking at the finals, and playing again at our own stadium, it is something that we want to be a part of. But it’s a long way away, and we’ve got a hard road ahead of us.”

Asked by Soccer365 about the stadium atmosphere compared with the Columbus Crew’s soccer-only facility, Jay Heaps noted, “Similar atmosphere. When we fill up the lower bowl, it’s such an intense soccer atmosphere. The way that it’s built, it’s almost like a soccer-only stadium. On the field, you don’t even notice the upper levels.”

Intensity wasn’t the only emotion playing on the Revolution. Clavijo admitted, “I was nervous. I’m 46, they’re 20, so they should be doubly nervous.”

If the 22-year old Pierce and his fellow twenty-somethings succumbed to nerves, they didn’t show it. Late in the game, Pierce even managed to get forward into the Burn penalty area. Grinning, he said, “It’s scary when I get up there. [My eyes] get real big, they get big when I hit midfield. I think I’m right by the goal.”

With the first home game and a win under their belts, the Revolution youth are certainly right by their goal.